Summer Olympics, London 2012
Since the revival of the modern Olympics in 1896, the summer Games have been
held in London on two previous occasions. 2012 will see the third London Games.
In contrast to the 2012 Games,
which are the result of years of
preparation and construction
works to provide new sports
venues and an Olympic village,
London had only two years
to prepare for the Games in
1908. They were planned for
Female participants at the 1908 Olympics prepare for the
Rome, but after the eruption
archery competition.
of Mount Vesuvius in 1906,
the Italian government reported that Rome could not host the Games. The second
London Olympics were planned for 1944, but the Second World War prevented
them from taking place. As opposed to the previous occasion, London this time
had three years after the end of the war to prepare for the Games in 1948. Wembley
Stadium was used for most of the athletics events, whereas in 1908 the White City
Stadium had been built specially for the Games in just 10 months. In comparison
with these previous occasions, London has had 7 years to prepare for the Games
this time.
In 1908 the London Olympics started in April and didn’t end until October: they
lasted 187 days! The 1948 Games were quite short by comparison: 29th July – 14th
August. Unlike today, back then all the competitors were amateurs. They were
not allowed to accept any money for competing. Today, in contrast, athletes try
to raise money from sponsorship and prizes to allow them to train full-time.
Earlier athletes, on the other hand, worked at another job and had to train outside
their working hours. They also had to get time off from work to go to London to
compete. In 1948 the national teams from abroad were even asked to bring food
because food, textiles and other things were still rationed in Britain.
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1.
a)Collect information from the text about the London Olympics in 1908 and 1948.
b)Use the information you have collected to write a brief summary of the 1908 and
1948 Games.
c)Collect information from the text about the 2012 London Olympics. Add any other
information you know.
2. Look at the text in 1 again and underline all the expressions used to make
comparisons.
© Ernst Klett Verlag GmbH, Stuttgart 2012 | www.klett.de Von dieser Druckvorlage ist die Vervielfältigung für den eigenen
Unterrichtsgebrauch gestattet. Die Kopiergebühren sind abgegolten.
Autorin: Jenny Wood, Bristol
Fotoquellen: Corbis GmbH RM
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Summer Olympics, London 2012
3. Now use the expressions you have collected to write a short text contrasting two
aspects of earlier Olympics with the 2012 London Games. Here is some information
you can use:
cost
athletes’
accommodation
no. of sports
no. of events
countries
participants, men
participants,
women
participants, total
1908
£20,000
tents
2012
£11 billion
newly built Olympic village
24
109
22
1,980
44
1948
£750,000
schools,
local halls,
existing hostels
20
136
59
3,935
438
2,024
4,373
10,500 (estimated)
© Ernst Klett Verlag GmbH, Stuttgart 2012 | www.klett.de Von dieser Druckvorlage ist die Vervielfältigung für den eigenen
Unterrichtsgebrauch gestattet. Die Kopiergebühren sind abgegolten.
Autorin: Jenny Wood, Bristol
Fotoquellen: Corbis GmbH RM
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Teacher’s page: Summer Olympics, London 2012
The Summer Olympics in London will give rise to a huge mass of information and
statistics, culminating in the medals table and including times, distances, and points
for the different events. It may be useful for students wanting to write or talk about some
aspect of the Games to have practised a variety of phrases for pointing out contrasts.
The tasks also include summary writing from notes. At the same time pupils can learn
how London has dealt with previous Olympic Games and what has changed over the
years.
1.
a) Information from the text about the Summer Olympics in London:
1908: only 2 years to prepare: Summer Games planned for Rome; White City Stadium
built for the Games in 10 months; Games took 187 days, April to October: all
competitors had to be amateurs, training outside working hours.
1948: planned for London in 1944, then 3 years after the end of World War II; no new
stadium (athletics etc. at Wembley); short: 29th July to 14th August; all competitors
amateurs; national teams brought food with them because of rationing in Britain.
b)In 1908 London had only two years to prepare for the Games, but built a new stadium.
The Games took place from April to October and all the competitors had to be
amateurs.
In 1948 there was no new stadium: it was only 3 years after the end of World War II.
The Games took only two weeks and the competitors still had to be amateurs.
c)London has had 7 years to prepare for the 2012 Games. This is the third time the
Summer Games have been held in London. This time new sports venues and an
Olympic Village have been built. Athletes try to get sponsorship money so that they
can train without having to work at another job for a living as well.
2. Expressions for comparisons: in contrast to, only, but, as opposed to, whereas, in
comparison, by comparison, unlike, in contrast, on the other hand.
3. Individual answers expected.
© Ernst Klett Verlag GmbH, Stuttgart 2012 | www.klett.de Von dieser Druckvorlage ist die Vervielfältigung für den eigenen
Unterrichtsgebrauch gestattet. Die Kopiergebühren sind abgegolten.
Autorin: Jenny Wood, Bristol
Fotoquellen: Corbis GmbH RM
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